HELMSHORE MILL

 UP AT SIX - TIME OR AGE ?

UP LATER 😴  John, Anthony, Mike, Danny

Instead of the usual photo of our disembarkation in a car park here we are driving along the motorway toward Blackburn. We will leave it at junction 5 heading towards Rossendale.

We chose a good day to visit Helmshore textile mill. The weather was miserable but as we were inside all the time this didn't matter.

By now a "start the day" coffee is almost obligatory. "One of those" says Mike.

Richard Arkwright,  born in Preston, was not considered a particularly pleasant man and imposed strict, perhaps harsh rules,  upon his employees.

As we began our exploration of the museum we came across this 200 year old fire engine. We were later told that because of the nature of the raw materials, Cotton,  fires were quite frequent. Workers who helped put out fires and so avoided the expense of calling the fire company  received a bonus. Strangely, fires became more frequent as Christmas approached.😉

"Jump Down. Turn around.  Pick a Bale of Cotton

Jump down.Turn around.  Pick a bale a day" 

An old folk song which tells us that the slaves on the cotton plantation had to pick a bale each day. It took sun up to sun down.

At twelve o'clock we were invited to join this gentleman who took us through the machinery "Sheds" and explained the process of creating textiles in the mill. Quite a complicated job and as even he couldn't remember all the names attached to each machine. (He knew the purpose of each)  I shall certainly not attempt to do so. 😕

The mill bought waste cotton from the more "refined" mills in the area.  The machines were in long rows  each being the next process in making the waste usable. The device above is at the end of the line where sheets of processed waste, turned here into coils, were now ready to pass on to the weaving process.

The weaving Shed

Lunchtime,  before finishing off in this mill and briefly visiting the woollen side of the business.

Through the window can be seen, across the yard, the old mill which we shall visit next.

This chap in the office looked very bored. I suspect he was an accountant.

WHO ... ME ?  Bottom right of this photo you will see  a chain which was fastened across where John is sitting precisely to stop people sitting there. Somebody moved it.

This charming young man was  honest enough to admit that he couldn't tell us much 'cause he didn't know much as he had only just started working there

Way Out" in Sixties parlance sort of meant,  "Eccentrically cool".  Hmmm ?    We shall see.

Danny looks rather challenging as we go through to the old mill .  

Sort of   " Non shall Pass !"

The last time Danny came here there was a Water Wheel near were the other two are standing. It was very dark inside but peering through the small window we could just about make out what appeared to be parts of it. One of the guides told us there were vague plans to restore it.

The woollen works display was seemingly rather neglected and only very small.

"By the pricking of my thumbs something wicked this way comes." ( The witches in Macbeth) and we're not too far from witch territory.  "Don't prick yer thumb on that spinning wheel John. It's a hundred years sleep if you do and I cant see any handsome prince coming to kiss you " 😴😟

Anthony looks cold, Danny looks mischievous and Mike's ignoring them both 

So.Goodbye to Helmshore mill.  An excellent choice for such a miserable day.   WELL DONE DANNY.

"Wind the bobbin Up" 

( Children's song)

THE END

JW